85th Virtual Grand Chapter Meeting Issue

THE BALTIMORE (MD) ALUMNI CHAPTER CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL

Kappa Youth and Community Center.

4093 Liberty Heights.

involved with the development of the Patriot Missile. Edgar Hawkins was part of the development of the current protective headgear for military person- nel. Brother Alvin Thornton was the Director of Engineering at the Edge- wood Chemical Biological Center and then Acting Technical Director with the equivalency of a Major General.

and support. In Baltimore Alumni the members served in this capacity usually as Alumni to that chapter. Brothers who served as Advisor to Alpha Iota Chapter to include I.W.E. Taylor for over 38 years, Floyd Taliaferro, III for over 12 years, Nathan Fletcher, Eny- inna Anthony, Michael James, Stanley Mitchell, William Proctor, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Claude Ligon, Sr., Leon Donaldson, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Wilbur Giles, and Richard Robinson who served as a neophyte. Brothers serving as Advisor to the Zeta Gamma Chapter were Gus Chase, Kenny Pough, Alphonza Green, Alexan- der Hodge, and Derrick Taliaferro. Advisors to the Lambda Zeta Chapter were William O. Dennis, Darryl Strange, Kenny Moore, Calvin Smith, and Kiron Harrison. Rho Upsilon has Calvin Smith as Advisor currently.

4903 Liberty Heights Avenue in 1973. This house was known nationwide for its hospitality. It was Brothers Only on Wednesday nights. The Chapter had a limited liquor license and the exchange for drinks were known as Yang Tickets purchased at a nominal price by the Brothers. The house was open to the public on Friday nights and was jam packed with lines waiting to enter due to the Fire Marshall orders to not exceed capacity. In the cool evenings in the winter, steam would emerge from the opened door from the party inside. A DJ would be spinning with drinks flowing. Needless to say, a great time was had by all weekly. In 1990 a unique opportunity presented itself with a property that would be considered the chapter’s summer home located in Anne Arundel County, Mary- land. It had been owned by a private so- cial club and was three acres with an in- ground pool. This would be called The Kappa Family Center. This was a source of revenue through rentals and assorted fundraising endeavors such as Jazz Concerts and pool parties. The chapter held its June Induction meetings there so as to make the transition easy to the June Chapter Cookout. The property was held until 2004 and was sold with a net profit of $384,000. Upon its sale the Chapter possessed $500,000 in liquid assets to acquire a new property.

Our Undergraduates

Not only does the Baltimore Alumni Chapter support the community but it is also committed to the uplift of its young members of the Fraternity. The chapter has four undergraduate chapters that it supports financially and from the advisory perspective. They are included in most of the community service programs and events held by the chapter. The Morgan State Univer- sity Chapter, the Alpha Iota of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; The Cop- pin State University Chapter, the Zeta Gamma of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; The Towson University Chapter, the Lambda Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and the Johns Hopkins University Chapter, the Rho Upsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. are all supported by Baltimore Alumni Chapter. Many Brothers on and off the campus served as Advisors to these Chapters. Advisors are critical to the function of Undergraduate Chapters for guidance

Real Property

The Baltimore Alumni Chapter has been fortunate to be one of the few to have its own Fraternity House. The first property was located at 1207 Eutaw Place. It was secured by 14 Brothers signing the note. The grand opening was a catered affair with food and drinks throughout. Un- fortunately, the property was reclaimed during Urban Renewal in 1962.

The second property was located at

Efforts to secure another property after

70 | SUMMER 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL

VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING

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